Sandra Rene (Klaus) Barker, 58, passed away on January 20, 2021, at her home in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, after a courageous two-year battle with uterine carcinosarcoma. Sandy was born on November 17, 1962, in Fort Lauderdale, FL, to Robert Francis Klaus and Mary Jacqueline (Pechous) Klaus Woolbright. She spent most of her childhood in San Diego, CA.
Sandy, her older sister Kelly, and their parents were involved in Bobby Sox softball, where they made many lifelong friends. Sandy graduated from Serra High School in 1980, where she was an all-league catcher and a homecoming princess. In 1979, she went on her first date with Brad Barker, who also attended Serra High – the beginning of a 41-year love story that grew and deepened with every passing year. Sandy attended San Diego Mesa College for two years, where she also played softball; she then attended Cal State Fullerton for one year.
Sandy and Brad married on August, 9, 1986, and purchased a home in the new community of Rancho Santa Margarita. Zach was born in 1990, followed by Sarah in 1993. Sandy loved her family deeply and unconditionally, and she cherished having a happy, welcoming home.
Sandy had many interests, including daily hikes with friends, reading, current events, nature, cooking delicious family meals, calligraphy, board/card games, crocheting, camping, traveling with her family, gardening, regular “girls night out” with her sister and long-time friends, sports, and organizing family reunions. She was the first to go out on the dance floor, the first to greet a new neighbor, and always willing to drop what she was doing to help to someone in need. She was genuine and humble, was loving and wise, had a great sense of humor, laughed deeply, and recognized and appreciated meaningful moments each day. She had a beautiful smile, warm hugs, and encouragement for the many people in her life, and she lit up the room without ever realizing how beautiful she was. She was the soul of a large extended family – the glue that organized family meals and celebrations, and the person who had a special bond with each family member – and she will be missed dearly.
Sandy was full of energy, and she had a great capacity to serve others. She was content to work behind the scenes, but often emerged as an organizer once she saw that help was needed. She volunteered at schools, coached, led Cub Scouts, volunteered at her church and local parks, and organized block parties, while always finding time to make everyone she encountered feel like they were cared for, listened to, and believed in.
Sandy was a medical secretary/transcriptionist for thirty years, allowing her to work from home, while always being there for her family. In recent years, she worked in the front office for local schools, becoming Office Manager at San Joaquin Elementary.
Sandy’s warm smile and uplifting spirit touched so many, and will continue to live on in all of us who have been a part of her life.
Sandy is survived by her husband Bradley Barker; son Zachary Barker; daughter Sarah (Barker) Pochatek (Bradley); parents Jacque and Ralph Woolbright; sister Kelly Klaus (Sergio); mother-in-law Anne Barker, sisters-in-law Elizabeth Barker, Lynda Marquis, and Peggy McLaughlin; nephews Matthew McAnena (Tess), Austin McAnena, Matthew Turcutto (Lauren), Sean McLaughlin and Will McLauglin; nieces Brittney Byrnes (Aaron) and Alexis Kaluzny (Micah), as well by many dear aunts, uncles, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins.
Services will be planned pending easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
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